There never is a dull moment within the Old City. Today, Caroline and I ventured around before going to Yad Vashem to see what else the city had to offer. Without even trying, we stumbled upon the Armenian Quarter and found ourselves in a suq (open-air bizarre). The sights and sounds are becoming a norm now after being here for just a few days. People bargaining for souvenirs, the call to prayer, and musicians fill the air. I feel like Vietnam prepared me well for this trip as to how to navigate around and especially how to bargain.
Before I forget, our first hearing went well with the group of B'tselem. They are an organization that one could say is more liberal. All I will say for now is that their goal is to spread the knowledge of human right violations that occur within occupied territories. Here is their website http://www.btselem.org/about_btselem. They are starting a video campaign where it includes giving volunteers (Palestinians) video cameras to document their everyday lives. This does not mean every single second, but if something appears to be happening, they can record it and send it in. Video taping within the occupied territories is legal by law there. They are funded by the United States, and have a small office in D.C. as well. More of these briefings will take place throughout the trip.
As most of you know (for those who know why I switched my major, etc.) , my favorite subject to research is genocide. Yad Vashem is somewhere where most people hope to visit if they enjoy studying the Holocaust. For me, it was an experience that will stick with me forever. However, it was not the perspective that I thought I was going to get. I have been to the United States Holocaust Memorial in D.C., which includes many artifacts on display. The reason being is so that people can see evidence as to what happened throughout Europe during World War II. I knew that Yad Vashem was not going to be full of artifacts and have the slogan "remember what you saw, " but a more simple version. This version was not as simple as I thought and it definitely has every right not to be simple. I was always told from other teachers and people who visited Yad Vashem that it was just a memorial with some stories since everyone who lives and goes to Israel already knows what happened to create the state itself.
The stories that filled Yad Vashem were more relaxed compared to the propaganda that fills the museum in D.C. These people, as in the Jewish population, know they do not have to prove what happened during World War II. It is no secret as to what happened. The museum is set up of course to help remember what happened, but more so to tell the stories of those who perished and not prove that something happened. Many more journals and diaries were displayed, giving us primary sources and personal accounts. Instead of a broader picture, there were many more small stories that helped connect the bigger ideas. Those who have survived the Holocaust will soon die as most are in their eighties and nineties. These stories must be preserved in order to remind people as to why we should not and cannot let these atrocities happen. It should remind us that the world should not be letting this happen again and take steps to prevent it. Too much knowledge is out there that help societies prevent genocide from happening. I will leave it at that.
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